Make That, “Good for Whom?”

Thanks to MLS protocol, home sellers typically have to “OK” overlapping showing requests — that is, when one or more Buyers want to see the home simultaneously (by convention, at least in Minnesota, showings are for one hour).

Should the Seller give their permission?

Absolutely!

As I tell my selling clients, the ideal is a house full of people, all of whom are ready, willing, and able to buy their home — and ideally, have just lost out on several multiple offers nearby.

Buyer Psychology

Even if the other prospective Buyer(s) are just starting out, unfocused, unmotivated, etc., it’s likely that the real Buyer(s) won’t know that.

All they know is that the house that just came on the market, that they like, has potential competitors.

Discussing strategy with their agent, elsewhere in the home.

That creates a sense of urgency, which results in faster, stronger offers.

So, yeah, overlapping showings are good . . . unless you’re a prospective Buyer. 🙂 

P.S.: All that activity can create lockbox issues, especially if the departing agent simply hands the key(s) to the arriving agent.

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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